Burgenland

More than a third of all Austrian wine ? in all three categories from food-friendly whites to powerful reds to famous stickies ? comes from Burgenland with its wine districts Neusiedlersee, Neusiedlersee-Hügelland, Central Burgenland and South Burgenland. Stretching along the Hungarian border, this region is climatically influenced by Pannonian and continental factors. The natural focus is the shallow lake called Neusiedlersee, whose heat-storing capacity allows for long hang times to obtain fruit of high physiological ripeness. Besides, lake water evaporation encourages the formation of noble rot, which is important for the production of all levels of sweet wines. As far as red grapes are concerned, the indigenous grapes Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt are on a rise.